New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-10
PART OF CHICAGO FLOODED.
THREE ICE GoRaEs IN THE CITY LIMITS
FACTORIES IN DANGER-wEsTERN RAILROADS TROU-
BLED WITH wAsHOUTs

FACIohiEs IN DANGER-wEsTERN RAILROADS TROU-
BLED WITH wAsHOUTs.
tBr TELEGRAPH rRIDUNE1
CHICAGO Feb. 9.-The southwestern portion of
the city began to feel the effects of disastrous
flood this afternoon. This morning there was a
hea'y volume OF water and rapid current In the
Chicago River The small creeks and streams
which feed the Desplaines River west Of Chicago
broke from their icy beds in the recent warm
rains and the volume Of water coming into the
chicago River from the Desplaines River rendered
useless The pumps at the Bridgeport station, which
consequently stopped working The sewage, which
has thus been diverted from its natural flow into
the canal now finds its way into the lake, but
from observations made this morning it does not
extend more than half mile into Lake Michigan.
where 1t then distributes itself north and south
along tho western shore. This afternoon an ice
gorge formed in the south branch of the Chicayo
River, and dragged number Of vessels from their
moorinSs. The rise In the river was so rapid as
to flood the cellars of The Mccormick Reaper
Works, which are about 200 feet from the river.
The many largo manufacturing est Establishments in
the nelshDorhood were in great danger all day.
The mass OF Ice, constantly increasing in size,
foated down the river, carrying everything loose
with 1t and smashing docks
The sudden thaw, accompanied by the heavy
rains on Monday and Tuesday caused the
prairies northwest Of the city to be transformed
into miniature lakes and the bitches to run like
mill races. The region OF Villa Ridge. northwest
OF the city, was overfowcd to the depth OF two
feet. AT Sulzer-st., in the north branch OF the
Chicago River, there was an ice gorge which
damned the river, and the low prairie in that
vicinity was covered with about two feet Of
water. A second gorge formed about three hun
dred feet below the Belmontave. Bridge, and
has raised the water so that it is nearly to the
floor OF the bridge. This morning the authorities
opened the narrow channel and the water was
given vent. but all the Easements and cellars
In the neighborhood were filed. The third and
largest mass Of ice was opposite Lakeview. Its
breaking was looked for with much anxiety.
dispatch to the Times from Aurora, Ill.
says; "1hc rain for the last forty-eight hours
raised the water 20 much in the Fox River thab
yesterday 10 was higher then IL has been before
for over twenty years. The ice in the river,
which was upward Of twenty inches thick and
not at oil brittle, BEGAN to move about noon.
The City Mills at the east end OF the dam IN the
east channel Of the river were carried away, the
damage amounting to $4,000 on the mill and
several thousand dollars the stock. The ap-
proach to the North-ave. wagon bridge was carried
away, as was the bridge at North Aurora
There have been trains from the West over
the Illinois Central since Monday night, "a bridge
at Council Hin being washed away. Tho North
western trains from Chicago went via De Kalb, on
account of bridges being carried OIL along the line.
and the Milwaukee and st. Paul trains went n
roundabout way TO escape break at Davis S
Junction. Near Mt. Morris, on the Chicago anil
Iowa road, il Is reported twenty lengths OF rall
have disappeared, trains from the East being late
in consequence. The bridge on the Chicago.
burlington nj Northern road Mt Millcdgeyille is
gone and large portion Of the track is under
water.
Tie River Rai,in in Michigan was never 81 high
rs IL has been since yesterday afternoon with
the water came an ice gorge which swept away
the Macomb-st bridge last evening. IL was an
iron structure valued at s15, 900 and the principal
snan rested on the ice for time and was secured
to an adjacent tree by some large Chains. Later
the clnins were broken and tho bridge sank.
Many houses were flooded and several people were
rescued with difficulty.